PURCHASING FISH TAXIDERMY

Below is a comprehensive review of my fish taxidermy experience.

I purchase, sell and own so much fish taxidermy, both skin mounted and resin replicas, that I could open my own fish museum. 

My significant other often suggests I do just that, but I think her motivation is solely to make room for more girly home decor.

I have so many books on fish and fish mounts in my home that my friends come to me for advice, answers and guidance when they consider having a fish mounted or buying someone elses mount or hand crafted replica.

They also come to me for angling advice, local fishing trends as well as tackle tips.

My thoughts concerning fishing/fisheries were once published in a major Northern California News Paper. 

I am experienced and feel qualified to comment on this subject.

For the sake of brevity, I will limit this review to the purchasing of fish taxidermy but may comment on further fishing experience in upcoming reviews.

I have bought and sold Fish Taxidermy from/to every level of fish enthusiast.  From those who sell items gathered at estate sales and have no knowledge or love for fish to those who are fish crazy collectors and are actual enthusiasts and anglers.

SO YOU WANT TO PURCHASE FISH TAXIDERMY

Motivations are different.  Ask yourself what you expect to do with the fish and what you expect to get out of it.   Is it a gift or is it for yourself?  Do you want it to last a long time, is it for a rustic cabin, business or a featured piece in your million dollar home?

AVOID LISTINGS THAT STATE "VINTAGE"

Unless you are a antique collector, I highly discourage purchasing fish mounts that are listed this way.

They are most often old skin mounts who have done a lot of hard time, often are compromised and will only get worse the longer you own them. 

Only if you are collecting "mummies" is this a viable option for the fish collector or angling enthusiast.

Additionally, they are often over priced, once again for the antique collector, not for the angling enthusiast who wants to display a beautiful specimen over a long period of time.

AVOID FREEZE DRIED MOUNTS

These mounts are usually the whole fish and generally small in size, making freeze drying practical.

Preferences and expectations vary but I have yet to view, purchase or hear from anyone who has been truly satisfied with this type of fish preservation.

I was so dissapointed by a Piranha that I purchased online, for $50.00, that I actually threw it away.    

RESIN MOUNTS VS. SKIN MOUNTS

Some opinion mixed in with the facts here.

Let's talk about Skin Mounts first. 

The only "real" part of these mounts are the skin, tail and fins thus "skin mount".  The body is either fiberglass, foam, wood or another application of a taxidermy form.  Skin mounts use glass eyes, epoxy, sealers, glues, paint and air brushed painting to try and preserve the original skin.

The term "real mount" is a bit disingenuous as some people think it is the whole real fish.

It is only the real skin, including the tail and fins, that has been preserved on an artificial body.

Skin mounts are more original and "one of a kind" because the body form can be altered to more accurately represent your specific catch and includes the real skin, tail and fins.

Skin mounts made several years ago have a tendency to fade, yellow and crack.  I have a 22 pound Mackinaw skin mount that this started happening to.  A trip to a modern Taxidermist put the aging process at bay, but was expensive.

Take a look:

Skin mounted taxidermy has come a long way.  Done by a good Taxidermist, using modern methods, skin mounted taxidermy will last a very long time without many of the aging problems associated with skin mounts from the past.

Another advantage to skin mounts is that not all species are readily available in alternative mounting methods.  I have yet to find a Cutthroat Trout, for example, in any form other than a skin mount.

Skin mounts are generally much more expensive than more fishery friendly alternatives, such as resin mounts.  You are  paying the Taxidermist for a lot of hard, tedious and consuming work involving client specific expectations.

Granted some Taxidermists mass produce skin mounts, such as Bream, Crappie, Bluegill etc, (such as you see here on eBay) but most skin mounts are custom made. 

 Skin mounts also affect wild species populations. While many species are still abundant, others are not.  Our fisheries are extremely stressed in many parts of the World for a variety of reasons, over fishing being one of them.  Here on the Pacific Coast, Salmon fishing has been almost completely closed because the fishery is failing.

I doubt that Taxidermists have actually had much of an impact on species populations, I simply present it as something to consider. 

People do seem to love the idea that the "skin" on thier mount actually used to swim however, and are often willing to pay more for something that is "real" on a fish form with glass eyes and epoxy finishes.

Done by a good Taxidermist, skin mounts can be the most beautiful and realistic of all fish mounts, but they have some limitations.

On to Resin Mounts

The resin mount movement started with fly fishermen who are probably the most environmentally conscious of all of the different types of anglers.

The original idea behind resin mounts was to be able to display your catch without killing it. Prompted by declining fisheries and a elevated moral aptitude, services sprang up that would make a resin mold of your catch from quick catch and release photos and approximate measurements.

An individual resin mold was cast from provided information and hand painted by species qualified taxidermists and or artists from the photo submitted.

Although very expensive in its infancy ($10.00-$15.00 per inch) , this type of taxidermy proved to be very popular, as an angler was able to retain a personal replica of thier catch while preserving wild fish populations.

This type of taxidermy is still costly but the pricing has become more competitive as more taxidermists and artists have entered the field and anglers are appreciating the fantastic replicas they create from thier personal photos and measurments.

The price has become further leveled out due to the addition of those who produce fish taxidermy from base models that represent a species in general without individual clients requirements, sizes  and unique shapes and colors.

Resin mounts offer some advantages.  First of which, there is no "real" skin to deteriorate, yellow, crack or fade.  They are also generally more economical alternatives for the fish collector or angling enthusiast.

The technology has come a long way as well.   They are losing thier "plastic" look and rivaling skin mounts in beauty and realism.

Take a look at this resin 21 Inch Brook Trout for example:

OPINION

  Consider that a "skin" mount may be presented for sale from someone who is liquidating their collection, due to illness, age, economic duress, estate sale or these fish are produced by a Seller that is harvesting fish exclusively for the purpose of mounting and selling them.

I am not an advocate of harvesting fish exclusively for the purpose of mounting for profit.

I am in favor of responsible harvesting for dietary consumption and sport, provided the species is viable, vibrant and exists in healthy sustainable numbers.

SHIPPING COSTS OF FISH TAXIDERMY ONLINE

Perhaps you have noticed, as I have, that most fish taxidermy listings on eBay demand a lot of money for shipping.

Some sellers talk about building "crates" to ship thier fish in, while others simply charge a lot without explanation.

Unless the fish is very large and heavy, it does not cost what some sellers charge to ship fish taxidermy.  I have bought, sold and shipped enough fish taxidermy to strongly suggest this is true.

Fish taxidermy does have to be packaged carefully and there are some additional cost in time and packing materials but even with that considered, excessive shipping charges for fish taxidermy seems to be prevalent on eBay.

Consider that fish taxidermy is not that heavy and shipping rates are based on weight and size.  Consider avoiding listings that only ship UPS.  UPS is more expensive for shipping compared to the USPS.  You can save on shipping costs if the USPS is offered as a shipping option.  If it is not, ask the seller to consider it to help you save on shipping costs.  Savings will depend on how the seller manipulates the shipping calculator, but my vast experience has verified that the USPS is more economical if rates are charged fairly.

  To determine if your seller is being fair with you, ask what the completed package weighs.  Then go to usps (dot) com and research rates by clicking on the "calculate postage" link.  Enter the required information, weight and ship to/ from zip codes and get an idea for yourself, while also considering that there are some packaging and handling costs incurred by the seller that are not reflected in what the USPS actually charges to ship your item.

If the seller is charging you $30.00 and USPS is charging $6.95 to ship it Priority Mail, (2-5 days) then you are probably  being taken advantage of.  If the seller is charging say 12.95, then that is likely reasonable considering the special packaging that shipping fish taxidermy requires.

UPS does offer $100.00 automatic insurance, which sounds really nice until you have a claim and try to collect on it.  I still have a pending claim over a damaged Brown Trout that is over 2 years old.

The USPS also offers shipping insurance.  It is very economical.  In most of my listings it is only $1.65.  Shipping insurance is encouraged when purchasing fish taxidermy.  If you are going to spend $30-$300 then you should consider insuring your purchase against rough handling or accidents.  

If your fish mount is attached to a piece of wood or other accessory such as a frying pan (just bought one like that) then expect the shipping to be a bit more pricey.  Just beware of listings selling un-attached fish under 20 inches or so and charging over $20.00 to ship.  You are likely being over charged.

The recent purchase I just mentioned was a Crappie in a 8 Inch Cast Iron Frying Pan and the shipping charge was only $18.98.  If you are familiar with cast iron frying pans, you know they are HEAVY!

I share this information to help those reading it avoid being over charged when ordering fish taxidermy online.  With informative education perhaps sellers will be prompted by informed buyers to stop over charging for shipping and improve the buying experience. 

This is just a guide.  I suggest you do more research and not use this as a Bible as it is based on my opinion in addition to my  decades long experience in this field.

I hope you have learned something useful as that was my intent in taking the time to write this guide.

Thanks for reading.

Sincerely,

RW

In constant awe of the beauty of fish.

Desperado Distributing Fish Mounts